President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on leaders in the Kigezi sub-region to focus on wealth creation and household income as key drivers of poverty reduction and economic growth.
Speaking at Rukungiri Stadium during his performance assessment tour on the Parish Development Model (PDM), Museveni emphasized the need for leaders to prioritize initiatives that directly uplift communities.
“My main message to all of you is prioritizing the National Resistance Movement (NRM) message on wealth creation,” he said. “Uganda has many development needs, but prioritization is crucial.”
The PDM aims to transform Uganda’s economy by providing financial assistance at the parish level to help households engage in income-generating activities. Each parish SACCO receives UGX 100 million annually to fund viable enterprises.
Museveni likened leadership to medical work, stressing that leaders must diagnose society’s problems and address them effectively. He warned against over-reliance on infrastructure alone to fight poverty.
“That road from Kampala to Mbarara up to Kabale was tarmacked in 1963, yet people along the roadside are still poor. For 60 years, they have had a tarmac road but remain in poverty. Therefore, you the leaders, let us agree on this,” he noted.
He pointed to Nyabusozi as an example of success, where people embraced commercial dairy farming without waiting for tarmac roads or electricity. This, he said, inspired the NRM’s 1996 manifesto, which promotes intensive agriculture through the four-acre model.
The model recommends one acre for coffee, another for fruits, a third for food crops, and the last for pasture. Additionally, poultry, piggery, and fish farming can supplement income.
“Those who listened to our message have gotten out of poverty. Leaving our people to suffer when solutions exist is a big mistake,” he said, citing testimonies from farmers benefiting from PDM funds.
Warning Against Corruption in PDM
Museveni warned of corruption within the PDM program and vowed to take action against those stealing from the poor.
“I have heard that there are thieves in PDM. All those who stole money from the poor should return it. I’m on the ground, and I’m going to arrest them all. I also stopped all the bank charges. The beneficiary must receive their full Shs. 1 million,” he warned.
Egg Processing Factory and Market Expansion
Museveni also addressed concerns over the surplus of eggs in Kabale, promising to establish a processing factory to add value and expand market opportunities.
“You have heard that they have a lot of eggs in Kabale, and Uganda’s market is not enough. Instead of selling them raw or eating them in Rolex chapatis, we need to process them into baby foods and export worldwide,” he said.
He compared this to Uganda’s dairy industry, where value addition led to increased milk exports to North Africa and the Middle East.
Call to End Religious Divisions
Museveni condemned growing religious divisions in Kigezi, calling them a threat to national unity.
“This must stop immediately. Those creating divisions are greedy enemies of Uganda,” he said. “Maama Janet and I sell bananas to all people, regardless of religion. When I was studying at Mbarara High School, the people who bought our cows for me to study were from Kampala, and some were Muslims.”
Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Wetland Use
The President urged the people of Kigezi to protect wetlands, highlighting their role in providing water for agriculture and domestic use.
PDM Progress in Kigezi
National PDM Coordinator Dennis Galabuzi Ssozi reported that UGX 88.8 billion has been distributed across 428 SACCOs in Kigezi’s six districts and three municipalities.
Kanungu District received the highest allocation of UGX 20.2 billion, while Kisoro Municipality received UGX 1.5 billion. Rukungiri Municipality leads in fund disbursement at 100.6%, while Rubanda lags at 95%.
So far, 88,000 households have benefited, with 58% of recipients being women. The funds have been allocated according to quotas, including 30% for youth, 30% for women, 10% for elders, 10% for persons with disabilities, and 20% for other community members.
Zero Tolerance for PDM Extortion
Galabuzi assured leaders that in line with Museveni’s directive, the PDM secretariat has budgeted for all bank charges to ensure beneficiaries receive their full UGX 1 million.
“We don’t expect any further charges on that money. Anything less than that is criminality. The President has directed security agencies to arrest anyone imposing unauthorized charges,” he warned.
Museveni concluded by promising to return to Kigezi for a special meeting on tea farming, reinforcing his commitment to agricultural transformation in the region.